Osteopermum plant named &#39;oste whiteytwo&#39;

ABSTRACT

An  Osteospermum  cultivar particularly distinguished by large, white inflorescences with bright blue eyes, deep green and slightly glossy foliage, free and good basal branching, a medium-sized, upright and bushy plant habit, good rooting characteristics, inflorescences that are induced at higher temperatures, floriferousness, good shipping and transportation characteristics and a continuous flowering response throughout the Summer, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Oste Whiteytwo’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis Norl., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Oste Whiteytwo’. The new cultivar originated from a hybridization made in the Summer of 2002 in Andijk, The Netherlands. The female parent was the proprietary ‘OY-8-10’ (unpatented) Osteospermum plant, having white inflorescences with blue eyes, while the male parent was the proprietary ‘OY-79-2’ (unpatented) Osteospermum plant, having white inflorescences with blue eyes.

The new cultivar was created in 2002 in Andijk, The Netherlands, and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and tissue culture in Andijk, The Netherlands, Gilroy, Calif. and Hillscheid, Germany over a three-year period. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar have been applied for in Canada on Mar. 31, 2005 and with the European Union on Dec. 20, 2004.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of the new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Andijk, The Netherlands and Hillscheid, Germany.

-   -   1. Large white inflorescences with bright blue eyes;     -   2. Deep green and slightly glossy foliage;     -   3. Free-branching with good basal branching;     -   4. A medium-sized, bushy and upright plant habit;     -   5. Good rooting characteristics;     -   6. A continuous flowering response throughout the Summer (in         contrast to older varieties which do not flower in the         mid-Summer)     -   7. Inflorescences are induced at higher temperatures (so that an         initial cool cultivation period is not necessary)     -   8. Floriferous (due to good branching and the formation of         inflorescences in the Summer); and     -   9. A good plant for shipping and transportation because the         flowers remain open.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows overall plant habit including inflorescences, buds, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photo is of an 11-week-old plant grown in a 12-cm pot in a greenhouse in mid- to late May 2005.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Oste Whiteytwo’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Hillscheid, Germany. The plant history was taken on 10-week-old, un-pinched plants grown in 12-cm pots in a greenhouse during late Summer. The color readings were determined under natural light in mid-May from flowers grown in a greenhouse. Color references are to the RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.         -   Botanical name.—Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.         -   Common name.—African daisy. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary‘OY-8-10’ (unpatented)             Osteospermum plant having white inflorescences with blue             eyes.         -   Male parent.—The proprietary ‘OY-79-2’ (unpatented)             Osteospermum plant having white inflorescences with blue             eyes. -   Plant:     -   -   Form and habit.—Herbaceous perennial but usually cultivated             as an annual.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Medium-sized for an Osteospermum             and freely branching.         -   Height (from top of soil).—35 cm to the top of the foliage             canopy and 38 cm to the top of the inflorescences.         -   Width (including inflorescences).—22 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—12 to 14 weeks             for a 12-cm pot in the Spring.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Use as bedding plants or in             mixed-container plantings.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—24-26 days in late             Winter.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine and freely branching. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Simple and alternate.         -   Shape.—Roughly elliptical to trullate.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire but the lateral margins are dentate with             pointed lobes.         -   Texture.—Upper surface appears to be glabrous, leathery and             slightly glossy.         -   Immature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: RHS 143A Lower surface:             RHS 143B.         -   Mature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: RHS 137A to RHS 137B             Lower surface: RHS 137C Length: 5.5 cm to 6.5 cm Width: 2.8             cm to 3.2 cm.         -   Petioles.—Length: 0.8 cm to 1.5 cm Diameter: 0.4 cm Color:             RHS 145A (the midrib and for both the upper and lower             surfaces) Texture: Short pubescence along the edge. -   Stems:     -   -   Total number of branches.—8 to 10.         -   Length.—28 cm to 32 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.4 cm to 0.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.0 cm to 1.5 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 143C.         -   Texture.—Glabrous. -   Inflorescence buds:     -   -   Shape.—Initially round or onion-shaped; elongate with the             development of the ray florets.         -   Diameter (horizontal).—0.8 cm to 1.0 cm.         -   Height.—1.8 cm.         -   Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).—RHS             157C. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—A capitulum or composite-type; solitary inflorescences             are borne terminally above the foliage and are radially             symmetrical.         -   Blooming habit.—Continuously flowers from Spring through             Fall.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—15 to 20.         -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—11 to 14             days.         -   Fragrance.—The inflorescences have a mild fragrance while             the leaves have a sharp and spicy fragrance.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—7.2 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—1.2 cm to 1.3 cm. -   Disc floret:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—40 to 50.         -   Shape.—Tube-shaped, while the upper end is 5-lobed, opens             outward and is star-shaped.         -   Tube color (closed).—RHS 96B (deep blue).         -   Tube color (mature).—RHS N81B (violet).         -   Length.—0.8 cm.         -   Diameter (at apex).—0.2 cm to 0.3 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute, pointed lobes.         -   Apex color.—RHS N96C (violet-blue).         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire. -   Ray floret:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—20.         -   Shape.—Ensiform.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Pure white, whiter than RHS 155D; RHS             N78B (violet-purple) at the base (near the disc florets)             Lower surface: RHS 187C (greyish) alternating, longitudinal             stripes; RHS N77D (light grey-purple) and RHS 155D (white)             at the margins.         -   Length.—3.8 cm.         -   Width.—Up to 1.0 cm.         -   Apex.—Rounded, slightly retuse.         -   Base.—Fused, narrow tube-shaped.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Glabrous with very shallow furrows lengthwise;             white hair (pappus) at the base.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 3.0 cm to 5.0 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm to 0.3             cm Texture: Short pubescence Color: RHS 143C (light-green). -   Phyllaries:     -   -   Arrangement.—In a whorl, adhere to the lower part of the ray             florets.         -   Observed quantity per plant.—15 to 18, with an average             number of 15.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Color.—Upper (visible) surface: RHS 137D (green) Lower             surface: RHS 137D (green).         -   Length.—0.6 cm to 1.2 cm.         -   Width.—0.1 cm to 0.3 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Pubescent (covered with rough hair). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Location: Present on disc florets only Stamen             quantity: One per floret Stamen shape: Tube-shaped Stamen             color: RHS N78C Stamen length: 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm Pollen             color: RHS 24A (orange) Pollen amount: Abundant.         -   Gynoecium.—Location: Present on ray florets only Number: One             per floret Pistil length: 0.6 cm Stigma color: RHS 200A             (dark brown) Stigma shape: 2 lobes Style color: RHS 200A             (dark brown) Style length: 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm Style shape:             Filiform (filament-like) with the lobes of the stigma forked             and slanting upright (about Y-shaped). -   Fruit and seed set: Seed set observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: Average/typical of the species; no     special observations made.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Oste Whiteytwo’ differs from the female parent ‘OY-8-10’ (unpatented) in that the inflorescences of ‘Oste Whiteytwo’ are smaller with shorter peduncles and has a later flowering response than ‘OY-8-10’.

‘Oste Whiteytwo’ differs from the male parent ‘OY-79-2’ (unpatented) in that ‘Oste Whiteytwo’ has a more compact plant habit, better branching and a more vigorous growth habit than ‘OY-79-2’.

‘Oste Whiteytwo’ differs from commercial cultivar ‘Brightside’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,596) in that ‘Oste Whiteytwo’ has brighter blue disc florets, broader leaves, a less distinct anthocyanin coloration of the stems and a more compact plant habit than ‘Brightside’.

‘Oste Whiteytwo’ differs from the commercial cultivar ‘Kalanga White’ (patent status unknown) in that ‘Oste Whiteytwo’ has brighter blue disc florets, while ‘Kalanga White’ has violet disc florets. Additionally, ‘Oste Whiteytwo’ has wider ray florets, shorter stems and a tighter and more compact plant habit than ‘Kalanga White’. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant as shown and described herein. 